A missile is an airborne ranged weapon capable of Propulsion flight aided usually by a propellant, jet engine or rocket motor.
Historically, 'missile' referred to any projectile that is thrown, shot or propelled towards a target; this usage is still recognized today with any unguided jet- or rocket-propelled weapons generally described as rocket artillery. Airborne without propulsion are referred to as shells if fired by an artillery piece and Aerial bomb if dropped by an aircraft.
Missiles are also generally missile guidance towards specific targets termed as guided missiles or guided rockets. Missile systems usually have five system components: targeting, guidance system, flight system, engine, and warhead. Missiles are primarily classified into different types based on firing source and target such as surface-to-surface, air-to-surface, surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles.
Terminology
Missile is derived from
Latin "missilis" meaning "that may be thrown".
The first use of the word was in the early 1600s by
Philemon Holland.
Historically, 'missile' referred to any
projectile that is capable of being thrown or a weapon that is shot or propelled towards a target.
Later military definition refers to a missile as an airborne ranged weapon capable of
propulsion missile guidance towards a specific target.
Any unguided
jet propulsion or
rocket-propelled weapons are generally described as
rocket artillery,
and airborne explosive devices without propulsion are referred to as shells if fired by an
artillery piece and
bombs if dropped by a vehicle such as an
aircraft.
History
Rockets were the precursor to modern missiles and the first rockets were used as propulsion systems for
as early as the 10th century in
Imperial China.
Usage of rockets as weapons before modern rocketry is attested to in China,
Korea, India and
Europe. In the 18th century,
Mysorean rockets were used in India by the Kingdom of Mysore and Maratha Empire against the British which was developed into
Congreve rocket and used in the
Napoleonic Wars.
In the early 20th century, Americans Robert Goddard and German people Hermann Oberth developed early rockets propelled by jet engines.
Proliferation restrictions
Various attempts have been made to control the spread of long range missiles capable of carrying weapons of mass destruction, such as the Missile Technology Control Regime (1987) and the International Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (2002). These were voluntary and not international treaties. Though not legally binding, more than 140 countries have been part of these agreements, and provide prior information on missile programs, expected launches, and tests.
The gradual introduction of missile launched hypersonic glide vehicles since 2019, anti-satellite missiles, and the deployment of dual use missiles capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads are proliferation concerns.
Components
Guidance, targeting and flight systems
A missile is most often guided by a guidance system though there are missiles that are unguided during some phases of flight.
Missile guidance refers to methods of guiding a missile to its intended target. Effective guidance is important because reaching the target position accurately and precisely is a critical factor for its effectiveness.
The missile guidance system accomplishes this by four steps: tracking the target, computing the directions using tracking information, directing the computed inputs to steering control and steering the missile by directing inputs to motors or flight control surfaces.
The guidance system consists of three sections: launch, mid-course and terminal with same or different systems employed across sections.
The guidance and homing systems are generally classified broadly into active, semi-active and passive.
Propulsion
Missiles are powered by
propellants igniting to produce thrust and might employ types of
rocket engine or
.
Rockets might be fueled by solid-propellants which are comparatively easier to maintain and enables faster deployment. These propellants contain a
fuel and
oxidizer mixed in select proportions with the grain size and burn chamber determining the rate and time of burn.
Larger missiles might use liquid-propellant rockets where propulsion is provided by a single or combination of liquid fuels.
A hybrid system uses solid rocket fuel with a liquid oxidizer.
Jet engines are generally used in
, most commonly of the
turbojet type, because of their relative simplicity and low frontal area while
and
can also be theoretically used.
From the 1950s to early 1970s, the United States operated Project Rover and Project Pluto for developing nuclear thermal rockets and nuclear-powered ramjet engines for powering cruise missiles respectively. Both performed static engine tests but were cancelled before deployment.
Warhead
Missiles have one or more
explosive , although other weapon types may also be used.
The warheads of a missile provide its primary destructive power which might cause secondary destruction due to the kinetic energy of the weapon.
Warheads are most commonly of the
high explosive type, often employing
to exploit the accuracy of a guided weapon to destroy hardened targets. Warhead might carry conventional, incendiary,
nuclear weapon,
chemical weapon, biological or radiological weapons.
Classification
Missiles can be classified into categories by various parameters such as type, launch platform and target, range, propulsion and guidance system.
Missiles are generally categorized into strategic or tactical missile systems. Tactical missile systems are short-range systems used to carry out a limited strike in a smaller area and might carry conventional or nuclear warheads.
Strategic missiles are long-range weapons used to target beyond the immediate vicinity and are mostly designed to carry nuclear warheads though other warheads can also be fitted.
Strategic
Strategic weapons are often classified into
cruise missile and ballistic missiles.
Ballistic missiles are powered by rockets during launch and follow a trajectory that arches upwards before descending to reach its intended target while cruise missiles are continuously powered by jet engines and travel at a flatter trajectory.
Ballistic
A ballistic missile is powered by single or multiple rockets in stages initially before following an unpowered trajectory that arches upwards before descending to reach its intended target. It can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads.
A ballistic missile might reach
supersonic or
hypersonic speed and often travel
exoatmospheric the Earth's atmosphere before re-entry.
It usually has three stages of flight:
-
Boost phase: First phase at launch when one or more stages of rocket engine(s) fire propelling the missile
-
Mid-course phase: Second phase when the rocket engines stop firing and the missile continues ascending upwards on the given trajectory
-
Terminal phase: Final phase when the warhead(s) detach and descend towards the target
Ballistic missiles are categorized based on range as:
-
Short range: less than
-
Medium range: to
-
Intermediate range: to
-
Intercontinental: greater than
Cruise
A
cruise missile is a guided missile that remains in the atmosphere and flies the major portion of its flight at a constant speed.
It is designed to deliver a large warhead over long distances with high precision, and is propelled by jet engines.
A cruise missile can be launched from multiple platforms and is often self-guided. It flies at lower speeds (often
Subsonic flight or
supersonic) and close to the surface of the Earth, which expends more fuel but makes it difficult to detect.
Tactical
Missiles might be also be classified basis launch platform and target into surface-to-air, surface-to-surface, air-to-air, air-to-surface, anti-ship and anti-tank.
|
| Anti-ship | AShM | Air/Land/Water | Water |
| Anti-tank | ATGM | Air/Land | Land |
| Air-to-air | AAM | Air | Air |
| Air-to-surface | ASM | Air | Land |
| Surface-to-air | SAM | Land | Air |
| Surface-to-surface | SSM | Land | Land |
| Anti-satellite | ASAT | Air/Land/Water | Space |
|
Anti-ship
An anti-ship missile (AShM) is designed for use against large
boats and
ships such as
and
. Most anti-ship missiles are of the
sea skimming variety, and many use a combination of inertial guidance and active radar homing. A large number of other anti-ship missiles use
infrared homing to follow the heat that is emitted by a ship; it is also possible for anti-ship missiles to be guided by radio command all the way. Many anti-ship missiles can be launched from a variety of weapons systems including surface warships,
,
fighter plane, maritime patrol aircraft, helicopters,
shore battery, land vehicles and by
infantry.
Anti-submarine missile is a standoff missile anti-submarine weapon variant of anti-ship missiles used to deliver an explosive warhead aimed directly at a submarine, a depth charge, or a homing torpedo.
Anti-tank
An anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) is a guided missile primarily designed to hit and destroy heavily armored
. ATGMs range in size from shoulder-launched weapons, which can be transported by a single soldier, to larger tripod-mounted or vehicle and aircraft mounted missile systems. Earlier man-portable anti-tank weapons like
and magnetic
had a short range but sophisticated antitank missiles can be directed to a longer target by several different guidance systems, including laser guiding, television camera, or wire guiding.
Air-to-air
An air-to-air missile (AAM) is a missile fired from a
fighter aircraft for the purpose of destroying another aircraft. AAMs are typically powered by one or more
, usually solid fueled but sometimes liquid fueled. A
radar or
Infrared homing based homing system is generally used and sometimes can use a combination. Short range missiles used to
dogfight at ranges of less than 16 km often use infrared guidance while long range missiles mostly rely upon radar guidance.
Air-to-surface
An air-to-surface missile (ASM) is a missile fired from an
attack aircraft,
strike fighter or an attack helicopter for the purpose of destroying land based targets. Missiles are typically guided and unguided
not considered missiles. The most common propulsion systems are rocket motor for short range and jet engines for long-range but
are also used. Missile guidance is typically via
laser guidance, infrared homing,
optical guidance or satellite. Air-to-surface missiles for ground attack by aircraft provide a higher standoff distance engaging targets from far away and out of range of low range air defenses.
Surface-to-air
A surface-to-air missile (SAM) is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy
aircraft, other missiles or flying objects. It is a type of anti-aircraft system and missiles have replaced most other forms of anti-aircraft weapons due to the increased range and accuracy. Anti-aircraft guns are being used only for specialized close-in firing roles.
Missiles can be mounted in clusters on vehicles or towed on trailers and can be hand operated by infantry. SAMs frequently use solid-propellants and may be guided by radar or infrared sensors or by a human operator using optical tracking.
Surface-to-surface
A surface-to-surface missile (SSM) is a missile designed to be launched from the ground or the sea and strike targets on land.
They may be fired from hand-held or vehicle mounted devices, from fixed installations or from a ship. They are often powered by a rocket engine or sometimes fired by an explosive charge, since the launching platform is typically stationary or moving slowly. They usually have fins and/or wings for lift and stability, although hyper-velocity or short-ranged missiles may use body lift or fly a ballistic trajectory.
Most anti-tank and anti-ship missiles are part of surface-to-surface missile systems.
Anti-satellite
An anti-satellite weapon (ASAT) is a
space weapon designed to incapacitate or destroy
for strategic or
Military tactics purposes.
Although no ASAT system has been utilized in
warfare, a few countries have successfully shot down their own satellites to demonstrate their ASAT capabilities in a show of force.
ASATs have also been used to remove decommissioned satellites.
ASAT roles include defensive measures against an adversary's space-based and nuclear weapons, a
force multiplier for a nuclear first strike, a countermeasure against an adversary's anti-ballistic missile defense (ABM), an asymmetric counter to a technologically superior adversary, and a
countervalue weapon.
See also
-
Vertical launching system
External links
